John le Carre’s The Little Drummer Girl is coming to BBC One

John le Carre is one of the UK’s best-known authors and the master of British spy thrillers.John Le Carré’s The Little Drummer Girl is being adapted for TV by the BBC, AMC and The Ink Factory – the three companies behind the acclaimed adaptation of the author’s The Night Manager.

The six-part series will star Florence Pugh and be directed by acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, The Handmaiden, Stoker), who makes his television debut.

Set in the late 1970s, The Little Drummer Girl weaves a dynamic and exciting story of espionage and international intrigue; of love and betrayal.

In this high-stakes drama, set against the background of rising tensions in the Middle East, a young, brilliant actress Charlie (Pugh) prepares for her ultimate role in ‘the theatre of the real’.

Park Chan-wook said: “Of le Carré’s many masterpieces, the one I love ahead of any other is The Little Drummer Girl.

“At the core of this story is an extremely painful, but thrilling, romance.

“This is what makes the story universal, reaching beyond borders and languages and remaining incredibly current.

“To adapt such a great work without losing its integrity, it needs the time and depth of a television series, and I am excited at the prospect of seeing how the drumbeats of Florence Pugh, the most energetic young female actor I have seen recently, will resonate with the audience.”

Simon and Stephen Cornwell, co-CEOs and Founders of The Ink Factory commented: “With The Little Drummer Girl we are embarking on an extraordinary journey.

“It is exhilarating to see one of le Carré’s greatest novels take shape for the screen in the hands of such a brilliantly talented team.

“Park Chan-wook is a master filmmaker at the height of his powers. His passion for the project and his vision are utterly compelling.

“Florence Pugh is an exciting actor whose Charlie will lead us on a heart-wrenching journey, and the team behind the camera assembled under Laura Hastings-Smith’s steadfast leadership is unparalleled.

“We could not be more excited to be working with our friends and partners at the BBC and at AMC to bring The Little Drummer Girl to audiences around the world.”